M5.2 Earthquake Strikes Vanuatu

Vanuatu —

What happened:

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Vanuatu at 10:17 PM Central Time on Thursday, October 23, 2026. The U.S. Geological Survey places the epicenter about 202 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers below the surface.

Impacts:

No felt reports have come in yet and no damage has been reported at this time. The USGS has flagged no tsunami threat from this quake. This is the latest in a busy swarm of strong earthquakes near Vanuatu tonight, following larger shocks earlier this evening.

What to do:

- Drop, cover, and hold on during any shaking — get under a sturdy table or desk and stay there until the shaking stops.

- After the shaking, check your surroundings for hazards like broken glass, gas leaks, and damaged walls before moving around.

- Expect aftershocks — stay alert and be ready to drop, cover, and hold on again.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 23, 2026.